APALACHICOLA RIVERKEEPER
RECEIVES AWARD FROM 1000 FRIENDS OF FLORIDA

Watercolor Award by Dawn McMillan.

Charles Pattison Presents Award to Apalachicola Riverkeepers.

Apalachicola Riverkeeper received a 2005 Community Steward Award from 1000 Friends of Florida, the statewide nonprofit growth management advocacy group. The award was presented at Apalachicola Riverkeeper's annual coastal clean up day at Millender Park in Eastpoint on September 17. More than 100 volunteers from throughout the region spent the morning picking up debris at four locations near the Apalachicola River. At the noontime picnic for the volunteers, Executive Director Charles Pattison presented the award on behalf of 1000 Friends.

"Apalachicola Riverkeeper is being honored for its sustained grassroots advocacy in support of more effective planning in Franklin and Jackson counties and for the protection of the Apalachicola River and Bay," says Pattison. The group played a key role in advocating for Franklin County to undertake visioning in the update of its comprehensive plan, and is now working to ensure that the visioning provisions are included in the plan amendments. It also played a key role in the development of "Imagine Jackson," Jackson County's visioning process. "They have been a strong and convincing voice for better planning in the region."

"1000 Friends was also impressed with Apalachicola Riverkeeper's effective advocacy resulting in a landmark decision this year to deny state permits for continued destructive dredging of the Apalachicola River," notes Pattison. The nonprofit also has been actively involved in the tri-state negotiations to ensure sufficient freshwater flows to the Apalachicola River and Bay.

"One of the most important components of effective growth management is enforcement of polices that reflect the goals of the local community. The development pressures facing our local governments demand knowledgeable planners and ethical government officials looking out for the public interest. We remain hopeful that the County will implement a meaningful and properly staffed monitoring and enforcement program as documented in our Visioning process", said Dan Tonsmeire, Apalachicola Riverkeeper Executive Director. "Such action would keep the faith with the citizens of this county and be a model for the other five counties in our basin".

The Apalachicola Bay is one of the most productive estuaries in the northern hemisphere, providing 90 percent of Florida's oysters and more than 10 percent of the total U.S. production. It has the highest density and diversity of amphibians and reptiles in North America. Established in 1998, Apalachicola Riverkeeper is a grassroots environmental advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and preserving this endangered river and estuary, including its tributaries. The group advocates for effective public policy and regulation, conducts extensive public outreach and education, and monitors the health of the system and threats to it.

Sixteen nominations were submitted to 1000 Friends for consideration this year; four awards were presented. Award recipients must reflect an innovative approach resulting in major, tangible accomplishments that can be replicated elsewhere in Florida. In addition to Apalachicola Riverkeeper, two other groups were selected to receive community steward awards: the Miami River Commission for its exceptional leadership in developing and helping to implement the highly-successful Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan; and West Palm Beach's Northwood Renaissance, for its outstanding citizen planning efforts resulting in successful neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing. The Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship Plan, which provides innovative incentives to privatize the protection of natural and agricultural lands, is receiving the Better Community Award.

This year's awards program was sponsored by the law firms of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart and Shipley and Cheffy Passidomo Wilson & Johnson, LLP, as well as the Florida Home Builders Association and M.C. Davis. A statewide nonprofit organization, 1000 Friends was founded in 1986 to serve as Florida's growth management watchdog. It has been presenting awards for innovative growth management efforts since 1990. For more information on 1000 Friends, visit www.1000friendsofflorida.org. To find out more about Apalachicola Riverkeeper, visit www.abark.org.